Macquarie Island artefacts

We have begun the preservation of some of Macquarie Islands artefacts. The plan is to ensure all current and future artefacts found on Macquarie Island are preserved, stored and catalogued.

I started with artefacts that have been in storage and my task has been to clean each artefact to the best of my ability. This was done very gently with a brush and small pick then to paint any metallic surfaces with Fisholene. This helps to take the oxygen out of the metal and helps to preserve it preventing it from further decaying.

After the cleaning and preserving stage has been completed, I take photos of each item and enter them into a data base that will available for future use. All the artefacts are now in storage out of the elements.

Patty Villegas

A rusted, steel bracket recovered from a shipwreck site. Many years ago…(Photo: Patty Villegas)

A slow job. Care has to be taken to ensure the items…(Photo: Patty Villegas)

More cataloguing. Each item was rephotographed, records updated before being placed back…(Photo: Patty Villegas)

An old anchor found on the island. No records are known for…(Photo: Patty Villegas)

The large timber cross member, possibly from an old ship, is carefully…(Photo: Patty Villegas)

And back in storage. Patty places a small rusted item inside a…(Photo: Patty Villegas)